Aeroplane.



1. MERMAN. AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION EILED MAY 23. I9I.

L. MERMAN.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23| 1917.

l 5,2%@ i 99, Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I. NIERIVIAN.

AEROPLANE.

AFPLICATION FILED MAY 231917.

Patent-ed Nov. 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. MERMAN.

AEROPLANE. 'APPLICAUON FILED MAY z3, |917.

a, Q@ W Q W .am bw SQ M M 3 Dm w w @J ,L M\ WN \\m\ Nl N@ N f No I MJ\ MY o 1 w@ MN /m mi MXN @S w@ A Mw w ww J. MERMAN.

AEROPLANE.

Y APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1917. L, l 99., Punted Nov. 5,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

srAfrns PATENT ornrcn.

JOSEPH HERMAN, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed May 23, 1917.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes.

Theobject of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and eiiicient aeroplane of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction constructed on the lines of a bird and adapted to be driven at a high rate of speed with safety.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane of this character equipped with floats located at the body of the aeroplane'and also at the Wings and adapted to enable the machine to operate as a hydroplane when required.

With these and other objects in view, the

. invention consists in the construction and constructed in accordance with this inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of 4the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the aeroplane.

Fig. vl is a horizontal sectional view of the same, the body -being shown in plan view. n

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the machine.

Fig. 6 1s an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the wings.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a portion of ,the body.

Fig. 8-is a detail perspective view of one end of 4the body.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 191.8..

Serial No. 170,446.

Fig.-9 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the superstructure.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view illustrating the construction at the top of the front arch.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the lower horizontal propeller.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view illustrating the manner of mounting the inner end of the central ribs 0f the frame of the wings.

Fig. 13 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of one of the floats of the wings.

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view illustrating the manner of mounting the arched and the V-'shaped side supports.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings. in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aeroplane comprises in its construction anl approximately boat-shaped body l and a superstructure composed of a top frame 2 and an intermediate horizontal frame 3 which is located at a point between the top frame and the body in spaced relation with the same. The boat-shaped body -is composed of central and side lower longitudinal ribs 4 and 5, upper longitudinal side ribs 6 and upper and lower reversely curved transverse ribs 7 and 8. The side ribs and the terminals of the transverse ribsA are 'connected by posts or stanchions 9 arranged at intervals at the ends ofthe transverse ribs. The ribs and the posts or stanchions are suitably secured to one another, and the upper transverse ribs are curved to present a concave upper face,

whilev the lowertransverse ribs are curved to present a concave lower face. The terminal portions of the longitudinal ribs are curved upwardly and the side ribs are curved inwardly. The terminals of the upper side ribs are secured to the ends of the central longitudinal bottom ribs` whilethe ends of the lower side ribs are secured to the upper side ribs adjacent to the terminals thereof. Metallic straps 10 are provided .for connecting the ends of the ribs 11 and 6, while metallic plates 11 secure the ends of the lower side ribs to the upper side ribs.

The lower transverse braces, which are arched, provide a transversely curved or lconcave bottom portion to the bird like body is of approximately rectangular' form, is

composed of curved side bars 14 and diametrically disposed bars 15 and 16 arranged longitudinally and transversely of the machine. The intermediateframe is also provided with a bracing member 17 and any desired number of such 4bracing members may of course be employed. The intermediate horizontal frame is supported by front and rear archesvl8 and approximately V- shaped side supports 19. The arches, which diverge upwardly, are composed of curved sidemembers which are connected at their upperportions by a transverse tie=bar or brace 20 and upwardly diverging struts 21 extending from the bar 20 to the members of the arch and diverging upwardly. The arches are secured to the horizonte-iframe 3 at the front and back thereof and the approximately V-shaped supports diverge upwardly and are composed of oppositely inclined side bars secured together at their upper ends and connected to the intermediate horizontal framev 3 at opposite sides thereof. The'sides of' the V-shap'ed supports are connected by a brace 22 and any desired number of such braces may be employed. Metallic plates are preferably provided for securing the arches and the supports to the `body and ysuch plates are preferably bent to lit'around the ends of the sides or members of the arches and side supports, as shown at 23 and 24, but any other suitable means may be employed for securing the arches and the side supports to the body of the machine The tops of the arches are secured to the intermediate horizontal frame 3 by metallic plates 25, 26

. and 27. The side supports 19 are secured at their upper ends to the sides of the intermediate horizontal plane lby plates 28 flanged to t the frame and the side supports and suitably fastened to the same. The rear plate 27 of the intermediate horizontal frame is providedwith a longitudinal extension 29 forming a support for a pair yof inclined braces 30 which diverge rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. The rearwardly diverging .A longitudinal braces 30, which are inclined,

are secured at their lower ends to the frame 31 of a bird tail plane 32. The top frame 2 of the superstructure is approximately elliptical and it is composed of curved marginal side bars and connecting longitudinal and trans-verse bars or braces which are suitably secured to one another and to the curved .the posts to the top frame.

portion.

marginal bars of the top fra-me. TheJ top frame issupported by vertical posts 33 and inclined braces 34 arranged in pairs and curved to form arches which extend from l and braces 34 are mounted on plates 35 secured to the intermediate horizontal frame andprovided with ia-n'ged portions 36 for holding the lower ends of the braces 34 and provided also with outwardly extending flanges 37 at the sides and outer u wardly extending flanges 38 at the front an back of the intermediate horizontal frame. The upper ends of the arched braces 34 are secured in sockets 39 of top plates 40 and the latter are suitably secured to the longitudinal and transverse bars of the top frame.

The body is equipped at the front with a forwardly extending longitudinally tapered front plane 41 forming a beakand support-- ed by a frame composed of curvedside members 42, a central longitudinal rib or mem- -ber 43 and transverse ribs 44. The .Central longitudinal rib 43 is curved longitudinally and the transverse ribs or braces 44 are curved transversely of the front extension or beak plane, which has its under surface concave.

The extensions 28 and 37 receive between them vthe ulpper -ends of laterally inclined side braces 45 and 46 converging upwardlyl from side wings or planes 48 provided with frames composed of marginal bars 49 and 50, longitudinal braces 51 and 52 and transverse braces 53. The marginal or side bar 49 is straight in plan view and it extends outwardly and rearwardly at an obtuse angle to the front portion of the body and the other longitudinal side bar 50 is curved longitudinally andextends forwardly and is connected to the vfront end of the straight side bar 49, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, formingn a tapered outer The transverse braces 53, which are arranged at suitable intervals, are curved and are secured to the side bars and to the intermediate longitudinal bars or braces 51 and 52'which are slightly bowedhas shown. y

By this construction the side planes or wings closely resemble in shape the wing of a bird and present lower concave faces. The Ainclined braces are suitably secured -to the frames of the wings and are preferably braced at their upper portions, but any suitable bracing means may of course be' employed to secure 'the requisite strength and l rigidity of the side planes or wings. The

side ribs of the body, as clearly shown in,

` maintain the machine in an upright position .in e uilibrium when the said machine is used as a ydroplane, or is hydroplaning.

The rear bird tail frame 31 tapers forwardly and is composed of central, intermediate and side longitudinal ribs 57, 58

and 59 and transverse connecting members v i, 60, 61, 62 and 63, arranged at intervals, as

clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and the number of ribs and the connecting members may be varied, as will be readily understood. The intermediate longitudinal ribs 58 terminate at the transverse bar or member 60 and the transverse bar or member 6l ispreferably equipped at its ends with suitable guides 64 for the reception of flexible connections 65 extending from opposite sides of a pivotally mounted longitudinally disposed rudder 66 and adapted to be connected with any suitable operating means for swinging the rudder from one side to the other for guiding the aeroplane. The connecting member 62 is preferably in the form of a truss and it has the rudder mounted on it by a suitable pivot 67. The rudder is braced by suitable guy rods 68 which are sufficiently fiexible to permit the necessary play or movement of the rudder which 1s comparatively small at the'center or pivotal portion., The rear connecting member 63 consists of a curved bar secured to the rear ends of the longitudinal ribs. The rear portions of the intermediate longitudinal ribs 58 support a guide 69 curved concentric with the pivot Of the rudder and receivj 'ing a traveler eye 70 of the rear portion of lframe and carries a top horizontally disposed propeller 76. The propeller shaft has also mounted on it a lower horizontal propeller 77 having a tubular shaft or sleeve 78 at its hub portion to fit the shaft 75. The lower end of the shaft or sleeve 78 is adapty ed to receive a pulley or any other suitable means for enabling rotary motion to be transmitted to it, and any suitable gearing may be employed for connecting it with the pulley 81 being illustrated in Fig. 11 of the 1 drawings, the belt being designed to extend to a suitable pulley 82 of a motor shaft 83. The aeroplane, in practice, will ybe equipped with suitable clutches for throwing the propellers into and out of operation and the horizontally disposed propellers may be'employed for lifting purposes for controlling the descent of the machine and also for'enabling the machine to hover at an elevation. The motor is preferably mounted on spaced longitudinal supports 84 located at opposite sides of the central portion of the body. The rudder is approximately segmental and is composed of a curved bar or member 85 forming the top and sides of the frame and connected by a bottom bar 86 curved longitudinally, as shown. The

bottom bar is connected at points intermediate of its ends with the bar 85 by suitable braces 87 and 88,

What is claimed is:

1. An aeroplane of the'class described including an approximately boat-shaped body having upper and lowerV reversely curved transverse braces, and connecting means located at the ends of the transverse braces forming tapered spaces or openings, the lower braces presenting lower concave faces and forming transverse arches.

2. An aeroplane of the class described including an approximately boat-shaped body having upper and lower reversely curved transverse braces, and connecting means located at the ends of the transverse braces forming tapered spaces or. openings, the lower braces presenting lower concave faces and forming transverse arches, and longitudinal floats located in v`the said tapered spaces.

3. An aeroplane of' the class described including an approximately boat-shaped body having upper and lower reversely curved transverse braces, connecting means located at the ends of the transverse braces forming tapered spaces or openings, the lower braces presenting lower concave faces and forming transverse arches, and longitudinal floats located in the said tapered spaces,.said floats being triangular in cross section and-having pyramidal ends.

4. An aeroplane of the class described including an approximately boat-shaped body comprising lower, central and side longitudinal ribs curved longitudinally, the intermediate portion of the central longitudinal rib being located above the horizontal plane of the intermediate portions of the lower longitudinal ribs, upper longitudinal side ribs having inwardly curved terminal portions connected together and to the said longitudinal ribs, and transversely curved connecting ribs secured at the ends to the said lower side longitudinal ribs and extending upwardly therefrom to the central longitudinal rib and forming bottom arches. Y

5. An aeroplane of the class described including an approximately boat-shaped body comprisin lower, central and side longitudinal ri s curved longitudinally, the intermediate portion of the central longitudinal rib being located above the horizontal plane of the intermediate portions of the lower longitudinal ribs, upper longitudinal side ribs having inwardly curved terminal portions connected together and to the said longitudinalribs upper and lower. transversely disposed ribs curved respectively to present upper and lower concave faces, and posts connecting the ends of the transverse ribs and the upper and lower .side longitudinal ribs.

6. An aeroplane of the class-described including a body portion, and a superstructure comprising a horizontal frame, i"ront and rear transverse arches supporting the horizontal frame and divergingupwardly, and upwardly diverging transverse supports extending from the sidescof the body to the said horizontal frame. n

7. Anaeroplane of the class described including a body portion, and a superstructure V comprising a horizontal frame, front and rear arches extending from the body to the said frame, and upwardly diverging approximately inverted V-shaped supports extending from th sides of the body to the said frame.

8. An aeroplane of the class described in- Cluding a body portion, and a superstructure comprising an intermediate and a top frame, means for supporting the intermediate frame in spaced relation with the body,

posts supporting the top frame, and arched bracing members arranged in pairs and connectin at their uper ends and extending from t e lower en s of the posts of the top frame.

'on the body, side supports extending upwardly from the body to the intermediate frame, posts mounted upon the Vintermediate frame and supporting the top frame, and curved braces extending upwardly from the intermediate frame at the ends of the posts to the top frame and arranged in pairs and connected at their upper ends. A

10. An aeroplane of the class described in-v cluding a body, a superstructure composed of vtop and intermediate horizontal frames, means for supporting the intermediate frame upon the body comprising upwardly diverging front and rear arches and side V- shaped members, means carried by the intermediate frame for supporting the top frame, and braces extending upwardly and inwardly from the wings to the apexes me the V-shaped members.

1l. An airship of the class described including a substantially boat shaped body having tapered ends and comprising lower side ribs extending longitudinally of the body and having upwardly curved terminal portions, a central longitudinal rib having upwardly curved terminal portions and providedwith an intermediate portion located above the horizontal plane of the intermediate portions of the side ribs, and transversely disposed connecting ribs extending upwardly from the side ribs and secured intermediate of their ends t0 the central ylongitudinal rib 

